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AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF

NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING 

MONTHLY

March 2024 | Issue 32

What is congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)?

Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is a commonly-occuring viral infection that can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy. cCMV is a leading cause of congenital disabilities, including hearing loss, developmental delays, and other neurological complications. In fact, cCMV is one of the most common causes of non-genetic hearing loss in babies at birth. Despite how common cCMV is, it often goes undetected because many babies are asymptomatic, meaning that they do not show any symptoms at birth. 

IN THIS ISSUE

What is congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV)?

Screening for cCMV

Targeted screening for cCMV for babies who do not pass their NBHS 

Proposal to add cCMV screening to the dried blood spot screening

Screening for cCMV

Babies can be screened for cCMV through a saliva, urine, or blood sample. Screening needs to be completed within the first three weeks of life. If the cCMV screening is negative, additional tests can be ordered to confirm the presence of the virus. Identifying cCMV early allows families and caregivers to get connected to services to help support and monitor the baby’s development.

Screening for cCMV in babies who do not pass their NBHS

Because cCMV is a common cause of hearing loss in children, it recommended that all babies who do not pass their newborn hearing screening receive a cCMV screen. Babies with other risk factors (e.g., small for gestational age, birth weight lower than 10% of the newborn population, small head circumference (less than the 10th percentile), a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit) should also receive a cCMV screening. Even if a baby with cCMV passes their newborn hearing screening at birth, they may develop hearing loss later in infancy or childhood. For more information about targeted screening for cCMV and resources for parents/caregivers about cCMV, please visit the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Colorado AAP) website. 

Proposal to add cCMV screening to the dried blood spot (DBS) panel in Colorado

A new proposal to amend 5 CCR 1005-4 has been proposed to the Colorado State Board of Health. If approved, this amendment would add cCMV screening to the dried blood spot panel (DBS). Under this amendment, cCMV screening through the blood spot panel would include babies who do not pass their newborn hearing screening, babies who do not receive a hearing screening within 10 days of birth, and babies with low birthweight. A hearing for this request will be held on March 20, 2024. 

Regardless of the outcome of the Board of Health meeting and whether or not cCMV is added to the DBS, hospitals should continue targeted cCMV screening for those babies with risk factors shortly after birth (e.g., small for gestational age, birth weight lower than 10% of the newborn population, small head circumference (less than the 10th percentile). 

Weblink for more information about this proposal to the Colorado State Board of Health. 

COEHDI Dedicated Audiology Support

Hannah Glick is an audiologist with COEHDI who can answer any newborn hearing screening related questions that you have. If you have any questions related to your newborn hearing screening equipment or questions related to best practices in newborn hearing screening, please contact Hannah.

Contact

Hannah Glick, AuD, PhD, CCC-A

EHDI Consultant

hannah.glick@unco.edu

303-518-2053

CONTACT

For technical questions about hearing screening, please contact:

Hannah Glick, AuD, PhD, CCC-A

EHDI Consultant

hannah.glick@unco.edu

303-518-2053